Hybrid vehicle

ABSTRACT

The number of opportunities where external charging of a vehicle parked in a residential parking space or a charging station in a predetermined period is available is counted as the number of opportunities, and the number of times of the external charging performed in the opportunities in the same predetermined period is counted as the number of times of charging. The number of times of charging is then divided by the number of opportunities to calculate and store a charging frequency. Since the charging frequency is a ratio of the number of times that the external charging was performed to the number of opportunities where the external charging is available in the predetermined period, the ratio is used as an index that can offer more accurate determination regarding an external charging utilization status. As a result, various processing to promote external charging are executed more properly.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-069253 filed onMar. 30, 2016 including the specification, drawings and abstract isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to hybrid vehicles, and more particularlyrelates to a hybrid vehicle configured to charge a battery and supplyfuel to a fuel tank.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, as a hybrid vehicle of this type, there has beenproposed a vehicle that restricts at least one output out of an outputof an electric motor and an output of an internal combustion engine whenchange in a parameter, which corresponds to fuel consumption consumed bythe internal combustion engine from the time of external charging of thebattery, reaches a specified value (see, for example, Japanese PatentApplication Publication No. 8-19114). In the hybrid vehicle, when changein the parameter reaches the specified value, at least one output out ofthe output of the electric motor and the output of the internalcombustion engine is restricted so as to encourage a driver to conductexternal charging and to promote traveling independent of the internalcombustion engine. Accordingly, it becomes possible to sufficientlyimplement an effect of suppressing atmospheric contamination, which isan original purpose of the electric vehicles, while reserving a capacityof the internal combustion engine to allow traveling in emergencysituations.

SUMMARY

However, since the aforementioned hybrid vehicle uses the parametercorresponding to fuel consumption consumed by the internal combustionengine from the time of external charging of the battery, it issometimes difficult to properly determine how much electric travel,which does not involve operation of the internal combustion engine, isbeing performed or how appropriately the external charging is beingconducted.

A hybrid vehicle of the present disclosure provides an index that canoffer more appropriate determination regarding a utilization status ofexternal charging.

The hybrid vehicle in a mode of the present disclosure includes anengine, a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to the engine, a motor, abattery configured to be able to supply electric power to the motor, abattery charger configured to be able to perform external charging thatcharges the battery using an external power supply, and control means,wherein the control means is configured to count the number ofopportunities where the external charging of the vehicle is available asthe number of charging opportunities and to count the number of times ofcharging as the number of times that the vehicle performed the externalcharging in a predetermined period, and the control means is configuredto calculate and store a charging frequency as a ratio of the number oftimes of charging to the number of opportunities. The mode of thepresent disclosure can also be defined as below. A hybrid vehicleincludes: an engine; a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to theengine; a motor; a battery configured to supply electric power to themotor; a battery charger configured to perform external charging thatcharges the battery using an external power supply; and an electroniccontrol unit configured to i) count the number of times of chargingopportunities that the vehicle is in a state where the external chargingis available in a predetermined period, as the number of times ofopportunities, ii) count the number of times of the external chargingthat the vehicle performed in the predetermine period as the number oftimes of charging, and iii) calculate and store a ratio of the number oftimes of charging to the number of times of opportunities, as a chargingfrequency.

In the hybrid vehicle in the mode of the present disclosure, the numberof opportunities as the number of charging opportunities and the numberof times of charging are counted in a predetermined period, and acharging frequency is calculated and stored as a ratio of the number oftimes of charging to the number of opportunities. It can be determinedthat as the charging frequency calculated and stored in this way islarger, utilization of external charging is promoted more. Accordingly,the charging frequency can be used as an index that can offer moreaccurate determination regarding a utilization status of the externalcharging. Here, “the predetermined period” may be a period predeterminedin time, such as in one month or in two months, or may be a periodpredetermined in terms of opportunities, such as in twenty trips or inthirty trips.

In such a hybrid vehicle in the mode of the present disclosure, thecontrol unit may be configured to count the number of times that thevehicle is parked in a residential parking space and a charging stationor in one of the residential parking space and the charging station asthe number of opportunities. With the configuration, the chargingfrequency is the number of times of charging with respect to the numberof times that the vehicle is parked in the residential parking space orthe charging station in a predetermined period. As a result, it becomespossible to offer more accurate determination regarding the utilizationstatus of the external charging in the residential parking space or thecharging station.

In the hybrid vehicle in the mode of the present disclosure, the controlunit may be configured to count the number of times that the vehicle isparked in a charging station within a prescribed distance from aresidence as the number of opportunities, or may be configured to countthe number of times that the vehicle is parked in a charging stationregistered in advance as the number of opportunities. With theconfiguration, the charging frequency is the number of times of chargingwith respect to the number of times that the vehicle is parked in thecharging station within a specified distance from the residence in thepredetermined period, or is the number of times of charging with respectto the number of times that the vehicle is parked in the chargingstation registered in advance in the predetermined period. Accordingly,it becomes possible to offer more accurate determination regarding theutilization status of the external charging in the charging stationwithin a specified distance from the residence or the utilization statusof the external charging in the charging station registered in advance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance ofexemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denotelike elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outlined configuration of ahybrid vehicle as an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a charging datestorage processing routine executed by an HVECU;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a charging frequencycalculation processing routine executed by the HVECU; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an outlined configuration of ahybrid vehicle in a modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Now, a mode for carrying out the present disclosure will be described indetail based on an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outlined configuration of ahybrid vehicle 20 as an embodiment of the present disclosure. The hybridvehicle 20 of the embodiment includes, as illustrated in the drawing, anengine 22, a planetary gear 30, motors MG1, MG2, inverters 41, 42, abattery 50, a battery charger 60, and a hybrid electronic control unit70 (hereinafter referred to as “HVECU”).

The engine 22 is configured as an internal combustion engine thatoutputs motive power by using fuel such as gasoline and gas oil from afuel tank 25. The operation of the engine 22 is controlled by an engineelectronic control unit 24 (hereinafter referred to as “engine ECU”).

Although not illustrated, the engine ECU 24 is configured as amicroprocessor having a CPU as a main component. The engine ECU 24includes, in addition to the CPU, a ROM that stores processing programs,a RAM that temporarily stores data, input and output ports, and acommunication port. The engine ECU 24 receives, through the input port,signals from various sensors needed for operation control of the engine22, the signals including, for example, a crank angle θcr from a crankposition sensor 23 that detects a rotational position of a crankshaft 26of the engine 22. The engine ECU 24 outputs various control signals foroperation control of the engine 22 through the output port. The engineECU 24 is connected with the HVECU 70 through the communication port.The engine ECU 24 calculates a speed Ne of the engine 22 based on thecrank angle θcr from the crank position sensor 23.

The planetary gear 30 is configured as a single pinion-type planetarygear mechanism. The planetary gear 30 has a sun gear connected to arotator of the motor MG1. The planetary gear 30 has a ring gearconnected to a driving shaft 36 coupled with wheels 38 a, 38 b through adifferential gear 37. The planetary gear 30 has a carrier connected tothe crankshaft 26 of the engine 22 through a damper 28.

The motor MG1, which is configured as a synchronous generator-motor forexample, has a rotator connected to the sun gear of the planetary gear30 as stated before. The motor MG2, which is configured as a synchronousgenerator-motor for example, has a rotator connected to the drivingshaft 36. The inverters 41, 42 are connected with the battery 50 throughan electric power line 54. The motors MG1, MG2 are rotationally drivenwhen a motor electronic control unit 40 (hereinafter referred to as“motor ECU”) performs switching control of a plurality of unillustratedswitching elements of the inverters 41, 42.

Although not illustrated, the motor ECU 40 is configured as amicroprocessor having a CPU as a main component. The motor ECU 40includes, in addition to the CPU, a ROM that stores processing programs,a RAM that temporarily stores data, input and output ports, and acommunication port. The motor ECU 40 receives, through the input port,signals from various sensors needed for controlling the operation of themotors MG1, MG2, the signals including, for example, rotationalpositions θ m1, θ m2 from rotational position detection sensors 43, 44that detect rotational positions of the rotators of the motors MG1, MG2.The motor ECU 40 outputs, through the output port, signals such as aswitching control signal to a plurality of unillustrated switchingelements of the inverters 41, 42. The motor ECU 40 is connected with theHVECU 70 through the communication port. The motor ECU 40 calculates thenumbers of rotations Nm1, Nm2 of the motors MG1, MG2 based on therotational positions θ m1, θ m2 of the rotators of the motors MG1, MG2from the rotational position detection sensors 43, 44.

The battery 50 is configured, for example, as a lithium-ion secondarybattery or a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery. The battery 50 isconnected with the inverters 41, 42 through the electric power line 54as stated before. The battery 50 is managed by a battery electroniccontrol unit (hereinafter referred to as “battery ECU”) 52.

Although not illustrated, the battery ECU 52 is configured as amicroprocessor having a CPU as a main component. The battery ECU 52includes, in addition to the CPU, a ROM that stores processing programs,a RAM that temporarily stores data, input and output ports, and acommunication port. The battery ECU 52 receives signals from varioussensors needed to manage the battery 50 through the input port. Examplesof the signals include a battery voltage Vb from a voltage sensor 51 adisposed between terminals of the battery 50, and a battery current Ibfrom a current sensor 51 b attached to an output terminal of the battery50. The battery ECU 52 is connected with the HVECU 70 through thecommunication port. The battery ECU 52 calculates a state of charge SOCbased on an integrated value of the battery current Ib from the currentsensor 51 b. The state of charge SOC refers to a ratio of capacity ofelectric power dischargeable from the battery 50 to the total capacityof the battery 50.

The battery charger 60 is connected to the electric power line 54 and isconfigured to be able to perform external charging of the battery 50with electric power from an external power supply 69, such as ahousehold power supply and an industrial power supply, when a powersupply plug 61 of the battery charger 60 is connected to the externalpower supply 69 at a charging point such as a residence and a chargingstation.

A navigation device 90 includes a main body incorporating a controlunit, the control unit having a storage medium such as a hard disk,input and output ports, a communication port and the like, the storagemedium storing information such as map information. The navigationdevice 90 also includes a GPS antenna configured to receive informationabout a present location of the vehicle, and a touch-sensitive displayconfigured to display a variety of information, such as the informationabout the present location of the vehicle and a travel route to adestination and to enable an operator to input various instructions.Here, the map information is stored as a database including serviceinformation (such as sightseeing information, parking area information,and charging station information) and traffic information on each presettraveling section (such as sections between signaling devices andbetween junctions). The traffic information includes distanceinformation, width information, area information (urban areas andsuburban areas), classification information (general roads andhighways), slope information, legal speeds, and the number of signalingdevices. As the service information, a residential parking space anddesired locations can be registered as registered locations. When adestination is set by the operator, the navigation device 90 searchesfor a travel route from the present location of the vehicle to thedestination based on the map information, the present location of thevehicle and the destination, and outputs the searched travel route onthe display to provide route guidance. The navigation device 90 alsocalculates route information (such as a remaining distance Ln to thedestination, and a direction Dn of the destination) for the travelroute.

Although not illustrated, the HVECU 70 is configured as a microprocessorhaving a CPU as a main component. The electronic control unit 70includes, in addition to the CPU, a ROM that stores processing programs,a RAM that temporarily stores data, a flash memory 72, input and outputports, and a communication port. The HVECU 70 receives signals fromvarious sensors through the input port. Examples of the signals inputinto the HVECU 70 include an ignition signal from an ignition switch 80,a shift position SP from a shift position sensor 82, an acceleratoropening Acc from an accelerator pedal position sensor 84, a brake pedalposition BP from a brake pedal position sensor 86, and a vehicle speed Vfrom a vehicle speed sensor 88. The examples of the signals also includea fuel quantity Qf from a fuel gauge 25 a attached to the fuel tank 25,a connection signal SWC from a connection switch 62 attached to thepower supply plug 61 so as to determine whether or not the power supplyplug 61 is connected to the external power supply 69. The HVECU 70outputs signals such as a control signal to the battery charger 60through the output port. As described before, the HVECU 70 is connectedwith the engine ECU 24, the motor ECU 40, and the battery ECU 52 throughthe communication port. When fuel is supplied to the fuel tank 25, theHVECU 70 calculates a fuel supply quantity Qin based on the fuelquantity Qf from the fuel gauge 25 a.

In the thus-configured hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, hybridtraveling (HV traveling) or electric traveling (EV traveling) isperformed in a Charge Depleting (CD) mode or a Charge Sustaining (CS)mode. Here, the CD mode is a mode that prioritizes the EV traveling morethan the CS mode. The HV traveling is a mode of traveling involvingoperation of the engine 22. The EV traveling is a mode of travelingwithout involving operation of the engine 22.

In the embodiment, the HVECU 70 controls the battery charger 60 suchthat the battery 50 is charged with electric power from the externalpower supply 69 when the power supply plug 61 is connected to theexternal power supply 69 while the vehicle is parked in a charging pointsuch as a residence and a charging station with a system of the vehiclebeing turned off (the system being stopped). If the state of charge SOCof the battery 50 is larger than a threshold Shv1 (that is a value suchas 45%, 50%, and 55%) when the system is turned on (the system isstarted), the vehicle travels in the CD mode until the state of chargeSOC of the battery 50 reaches a thresholds Shv2 (that is a value such as25%, 30%, and 35%) or less. After the state of charge SOC of the battery50 reaches the threshold Shv2 or less, the vehicle travels in the CSmode until the system is turned off. When the state of charge SOC of thebattery 50 is equal to or less the threshold Shv when the system isturned on, the vehicle travels in the CS mode until the system is turnedoff.

A description is now given of operation of the thus-configured hybridvehicle 20 of the embodiment, and particularly the operation ofcalculating and storing a charging frequency Fchg used as a utilizationindex of charging (external charging) of the battery 50 by the batterycharger 60. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a chargingdate storage processing routine executed by the HVECU 70. FIG. 3 is aflowchart illustrating one example of a charging frequency calculationprocessing routine executed by the HVECU 70. In the embodiment, thecharging date storage processing routine and the charging frequencycalculation processing routine are executed when the vehicle is parkedand the system is turned off (system is stopped), and then the system isturned on (system is started). A detailed description will be providedin sequence.

When the charging date storage processing routine is executed, the HVECU70 first acquires a parking position from the navigation device 90 (stepS100) and determines whether the acquired parking location is aresidential parking space or a charging station (step S110). When theparking location is not the residential parking space nor the chargingstation, it is determined that the vehicle is parked at a location whereexternal charging is not available, and the present routine is ended.When the parking location is the residential parking space or thecharging station, it is determined that the vehicle is parked in thelocation where external charging is available, and a present date isstored in a parking date storage area predetermined in the flash memory72 (step S120). Then, it is determined whether or not external chargingwas performed (step S130). Whether or not the external charging wasperformed can be determined based on a connection signal SWC from theconnection switch 62 indicative of connection between the power supplyplug 61 of the battery charger 60 and the external power supply 69 andbased on whether or not the state of charge SOC of the battery 50 wasincreased from the SOC at the time when the system was turned off. Whenexternal charging was performed, the pertinent date is stored in thecharging date storage area predetermined in the flash memory 72 (stepS140), and the present routine is ended. When the external charging wasnot performed, the present routine is ended without the date beingstored.

When the charging frequency calculation processing routine is executed,the HVECU 70 first searches for dates within a predetermined period (forexample, a period of past 30 days, and a period of past 30 trips) fromthe parking date storage area of the flash memory 72, and counts thenumber of the dates as the number of opportunities Copp (step S200).Next, the HVECU 70 searches for dates within the same period(predetermined period) from the charging date storage area of the flashmemory 72, and counts the number of dates as the number of times ofcharging Cchg (step S210). The HVECU 70 then divides the number of timesof charging Cchg by the number of opportunities Copp to calculate acharging frequency Fchg, and stores the charging frequency Fchg in aprescribed area of the flash memory 72 (step S220). Since the chargingfrequency Fchg is a ratio of the number of times of external chargingperformed to the number of opportunities where the external charging isavailable in the predetermined period, it can be determined that as theratio is larger, utilization of the external charging is promoted more.Accordingly, the ratio can be used as an index that can offer moreaccurate determination regarding the utilization status of the externalcharging. Once the charging frequency Fchg is calculated and stored inthis way, the charging frequency Fchg is compared with a threshold Fref(step S230). When the charging frequency Fchg is equal to or larger thanthe threshold Fref, it is determined that the utilization status of theexternal charging is sufficient and the present routine is ended. Whenthe charging frequency Fchg is less than the threshold Fref, it isdetermined that the utilization status of the external charging is notsufficient. Accordingly, some processing is conducted to promote theexternal charging, such as notification processing to perform processingsuch as announcement of a message “Use an external power supply tocharge the vehicle”, and function restriction processing to performprocessing such as restricting the torque necessary for traveling (stepS240), and the present routine is ended.

In the hybrid vehicle 20 in the embodiment described in the foregoing,the number of opportunities Copp and the number of times of chargingCchg are obtained, the number of opportunities Copp being counted as thenumber of opportunities where external charging of a vehicle parked in aresidential parking space or a charging station is available in apredetermined period, the number of times of charging Cchg being countedas the number of times of the external charging performed in theopportunities where the external charging is available in the samepredetermined period. The number of times of charging Cchg is thendivided by the number of opportunities Copp to calculate and store thecharging frequency Fchg. Since the charging frequency Fchg is a ratio ofthe number of times that the external charging was performed to thenumber of opportunities where the external charging is available in thepredetermined period, the ratio is used as an index that can offer moreaccurate determination regarding the utilization status of the externalcharging. As a result, various processing to promote external chargingcan be executed more properly.

In the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, the residential parkingspace and the charging station are used as a parking location where thenumber of opportunities Copp is counted. However, a location to countthe number of opportunities Copp may be a charging station within aspecified distance (such as 3 km or 5 km) from the residential parkingspace and the residence, or may be a charging station registered inadvance as a regular charging location.

The hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment includes the battery charger 60that charges the battery 50 with the power supply plug 61 beingconnected to the external power supply 69. However, the hybrid vehicle20 may include a battery charger that charges the battery 50 byreceiving electric power from the external power supply 69 in anon-contact manner.

The hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment is configured such that theengine 22, the motor MG1, and the driving shaft 36 are connected to theplanetary gear 30, and the driving shaft 36 is connected to the motorMG2. Like a hybrid vehicle 220 in a modification illustrated in FIG. 4,the present disclosure may be configured such that a driving shaft 36coupled with wheels 38 a, 38 b is connected to a motor MG through atransmission 230, and a rotating shaft of the motor MG is connected toan engine 22 through a clutch 229. In this case, motive power from theengine 22 may be output to the driving shaft 36 through the rotatingshaft of the motor MG and the transmission 230, and motive power fromthe motor MG may be output to the driving shaft through the transmission230. The present disclosure may also be configured as so-called aseries-hybrid vehicle. That is, the present disclosure may be a hybridvehicle of any configuration as long as the hybrid vehicle includes anengine, a motor, a battery, and a battery charger connected to anexternal power supply to charge the battery.

Correspondence relation between the main elements of the embodiment andthe main elements of the present disclosure described in Summary will bedescribed. In the embodiment, the engine 22 corresponds to “the engine”,the fuel tank 25 corresponds to “the fuel tank”, the motor MG2corresponds to “the motor”, the battery 50 corresponds to “the battery”,the battery charger 60 corresponds to “the battery charger”, and theHVECU 70 that executes the charging date storage processing routine inFIG. 2 and the charging frequency calculation processing routine in FIG.3 corresponds to “the control unit”.

Since the embodiment is one example for specific description of the modefor carrying out the present disclosure described in Summary, thecorrespondence relation between the main elements of the embodiment andthe main elements of the present disclosure described in Summary is notintended to limit the elements of the disclosure described in Summary.More specifically, the disclosure disclosed in Summary should beinterpreted based on the description therein, and the embodiment ismerely a specific example of the disclosure disclosed in Summary.

Although the mode for carrying out the present disclosure has beendescribed using the embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited inany manner to the embodiment disclosed. It should naturally beunderstood that the present disclosure can be carried out in variousmodes without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure is applicable in the fields such as manufacturingof the hybrid vehicle.

1-4 (canceled)
 5. A hybrid vehicle, comprising: an engine; a fuel tankconfigured to supply fuel to the engine; a motor; a battery configuredto supply electric power to the motor; a battery charger configured toperform external charging that charges the battery using an externalpower supply; and an electronic control unit configured to count thenumber of times of charging opportunities that the vehicle is in a statewhere the external charging is available in a predetermined period, asthe number of times of opportunities, count the number of times of theexternal charging that the vehicle performed in the predeterminedperiod, as the number of times of charging, and calculate and store aratio of the number of times of charging to the number of times ofopportunities, as a frequency of external charging.
 6. The hybridvehicle according to claim 5, wherein the electronic control unit isconfigured to count at least one of the number of times that the vehicleis parked in a residential parking space and the number of times thatthe vehicle is parked in a charging station as the number of times ofopportunities.
 7. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, wherein theelectronic control unit is configured to count the number of times thatthe vehicle is parked in a charging station within a prescribed distancefrom a residence, as the number of times of opportunities.
 8. The hybridvehicle according to claim 5, wherein the electronic control unit isconfigured to count the number of times that the vehicle is parked in acharging station registered in advance, as the number of times ofopportunities.
 9. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, wherein theelectronic control unit is configured to conduct external chargingpromotion process based on the frequency of external charging.
 10. Amethod of operating a hybrid vehicle, wherein the hybrid vehiclecomprises an engine, a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to theengine, a motor, a battery configured to supply electric power to themotor, a battery charger configured to perform external charging thatcharges the battery using an external power supply, and an electroniccontrol unit, the method comprising: counting the number of times ofcharging opportunities that the vehicle is in a state where the externalcharging is available in a predetermined period, as the number of timesof opportunities; counting the number of times of the external chargingthat the vehicle performed in the predetermined period, as the number oftimes of charging; and calculating and storing a ratio of the number oftimes of charging to the number of times of opportunities, as afrequency of external charging.